"On the northern edge of Cozumel, there is a Mayan resort called Passion Island that's accessible only by boat. We enjoyed an incredible day of swimming, walking, and eating the best guacamole I've ever had. I kept watching these cormorants and the native fishermen in the background. I think I know who the better 'fishermen' are."

"The full name of this historic fort in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, is Castillo San Felipe del Morro. The huge waves pound on the rocky headlands, which makes a defeaning sound heard throughout the fort."

"Most of the beaches on Vieques, a small Puerto Rican island, are called by the color code the U.S. Navy once used for its landing exercises. Punta Arenas Beach, or Green Beach, is one of the most beautiful and tranquil places on the island."

"Having never left the borders of the U.S. and needing a big change, I decided to go backpacking through the Yucatán Peninsula. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made. The adventure began on Isla Mujeres, only two buses and one ferry ride away from the tourist trap of Cancún (which you can see on the horizon)."

"A lone tree rises in silhouette against cotton-candy sunset clouds in Belize City. Panned by many guidebooks, the capital nevertheless offers a funky Caribbean vibe and decent seafood, along with a bustling port that is a travel hub for the entire region."

Recent Features

From Cape Cod to the Great Lakes, from Southern California to the Gulf of Mexico, America’s beaches stay open long after the summer crowds have gone home. It’s the same sun and surf—oh, except that you've got some elbow room and hotel rates have come back down to earth!